Hair curler



y 1939- F. PISCIOTTA HAIR CURLEER Filed March 30, 1938 J M WWW 5 l vf A itorneys Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 16 Claims.

The present invention relates to hair curlers of the type embodying a mandrel upon which the hair is adapted to be wound, the invention having for its primary object the provision of a clamp adapted to engage the hair after the same is wound upon the mandrel in a manner to prevent unwinding action of the mandrel and embodying means for holding the clamp in a stationary position while the mandrel is further wound to cause a tightening of the hair upon the mandrel, to cause a more permanent curl to be maintained in the hair.

A further important object is to provide a catch mechanism for the free end of the clamp adapted .15 to provide for the automatic adjustment of the clamp during the winding action to compensate for the increase of the thickness of the hair as the same is wound upon the mandrel.

A further object is to provide a hair curler of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efiicient and reliable in performance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

25 Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, and reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which-- Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view through the curler.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken 5 substantially on a line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a similar view taken substantially on a line 44 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is an inner end elevational view of the rotatable extension for the mandrel.

40 Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates an elongated hair winding mandrel which is round in cross section and 45 flared toward each end in the usual manner, the

mandrel being provided with an elongated clamping member 6 of arcuate shape in cross section, as will be apparent from an inspection of Figure l of the drawing, one end of the clamp being pro- 50 vided with legs 1 for pivotally mounting the same as at 8 adjacent one end of the mandrel. The opposite end of the clamp is free, enabling the same to be swung outwardly from the mandrel for positioning a strand of hair between the 55 clamp and the mandrel for winding the same upon the mandrel in a manner as will be apparent.

The end of the mandrel immediately adjacent the pivot 8 is provided with a circumferential groove 9 within which is positioned the bight por- 5 tion of a U-shaped pivot pin mounting ID, the ends of the U-shaped mounting being provided with slots ll within which is slidably positioned a pivot pin l2 and upon which pin is pivotally mounted one end of a clamping member 13. The 10 ends of the pin l2 project outwardly from each side of the U-shaped member In for attaching the opposite ends of a coiled spring M, the coiled spring surrounding the bight portion of the U- shaped member and also seated in said groove 9. 16 The mounting is accordingly free to rotate in the groove and is frictionally held against idle rotation by the spring l4.

The end of the mandrel immediately adjacent the groove 9 is also formed with a winding key I 5. 20

The opposite end of the mandrel is formed with an inwardly and longitudinally extending recess !6 within which is rotatably positioned the reduced end ll of an extension I8 for the mandrel, the reduced extension i! being provided with a spirally wound spring l9 having one end secured in a slot 20 extending transversely of the inner end of the extension. The other end 2| of the spring projects radially from the extension I! for contacting the walls of the recess IE to prevent rotation of the extension i8 in one direction with respect to the mandrel, while at the same time permitting free relative rotation thereof in an opposite direction.

The extension i8 is provided with a plurality of transversely extending openings 22 adapted to selectively receive the angularly bent end 23 of the clamp l3. The outer surface of the angularly bent end 23 is provided wtih a series of relatively shallow notches or teeth 24 adapted for engagement by the inner end of a catch 25, said catch being in the form of a pin slidably mounted in an opening 26 in the outer end of the extension !8, the outer end of the opening being closed by a plug 2'! against which a coiled spring 28 contacts, the opposite end of the spring engaging a collar 29 on the catch for yieldably urging the catch inwardly into engagement with the teeth 24. The outer end of the catch is provided with a knob 30 for releasing the catch from engagement when desired.

In the operation of the device, the clamping member [3 is opened andthe clamping member 6 employed to clamp the end of the hair which is then wound upon the mandrel to the desired extent, after which the clamping member I3 is closed and the angular end 23 inserted in one of the openings 22 of the extension and secured in position therein by the catch 25. The extension IB is then held by one hand of a person while the key I5 is manipulated to further wind the mandrel causing a tightening of the hair upon the mandrel, the clamping member l3 thus being held stationary and causing the outer surface of the hair to be flatly compressed against the mandrel. The clamping member I3 is preferably formed of spring steel, allowing the same to flex to compensate for the thickness of the hair wound about the mandrel, the slots H in the U-shaped mounting l0 also permitting the pivot pin l2 to adjust the pivoted end of the clamp in accordance with the thickness of the hair wound about the mandrel and the teeth 24 in the angularly extending end 23 of the clamp are sufliciently shallow to enable the automatic retraction of the end 23 from the opening in accordance with a predetermined increase in the amount of hair wound on the mandrel.

The prong-like end 2| of the spring 19 engaging the inner surface of the recess 16 will prevent reverse rotary movement of the mandrel and thus prevent unwinding action, while the clamp I3 is in engaged position.

It is believed the details of construction and manner of operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A hair curler comprising a mandrel adapted to have a strand of hair wound thereabout, a clamp pivoted at one end of the mandrel and having an inturned free end positioned transversely at one end of the mandrel and catch means releasably engaging the free end of the clamp to secure the clamp in hair engaging position on the mandrel.

2. A hair curler comprising a mandrel adapted to have a strand of hair wound thereabout, an extension at one end of the mandrel and mounted for rotation independent of the mandrel, means limiting rotation of the extension in one direction, a clamp pivoted at one end to the opposite end of the mandrel and catch means between the extension and the free end of the clamp to secure the clamp in hair engaging position on the mandrel.

3. A hair curler comprising a mandrel adapted to have a strand of hair wound thereabout, an extension at one end of the mandrel and mounted for rotation independent of the mandrel, ratcheting means between the extension and the mandrel limiting rotation of the extension in one direction, said extension having circumferentially spaced openings therein, a clamp pivoted at one end to the opposite end of the mandrel, the other end of the clamp being selectively insertable in said openings and catch means carried by the extension and releasably engageable with the inserted end of the clamp to secure the clamp in hair clamping position.

4. A hair curler comprising a mandrel adapted to have a strand of hair wound thereabout, a clamp extending longitudinally of the mandrel and pivoted at one end adjacent one end of the mandrel, an angular toothed extension on the free end of the clamp, a rotary extension carried by the mandrel having transverse openings therein adapted to receive the toothed extension of the clamp and a spring actuated pawl carried by the rotary extension and releasably engaging the teeth of the clamp.

5. A hair curler comprising a mandrel adapted to have a strand of hair wound thereabout, a clamp positioned longitudinally on the mandrel, a pivoted mounting for one end of the clamp rotatably carried by the mandrel, spring means yieldably maintaining the mounting against idle rotation, an angular toothed extension on the free end of the clamp, a rotary extension carried by the mandrel having transverse openings therein adapted to receive the toothed extension of the clamp and a spring actuated pawl carried by the rotary extension and releasably engaging the teeth of the clamp.

6. A hair curler comprising a mandrel adapted to have a strand of hair wound thereabout, a clamp pivoted at one end of the mandrel and catch means releasably engaging the free end of the clamp to secure the clamp in hair engaging position on the mandrel, said clamp being responsive to an increase in the thickness of the hair wound on the mandrel to automatically adjust the position of the free end of the clamp relative to the catch.

'7. A hair curler comprising a mandrel adapted to have a strand of hair wound thereabout, a clamp pivoted at one end to the mandrel, spring actuated catch means carried by the mandrel releasably engaging the free end of the clamp, said clamp being responsive to an increase in the thickness of the hair wound on the mandrel to automatically release the clamp from the catch in a step-bystep movement.

8. A hair curler comprising a mandrel adapted to have a strand of hair wound thereabout, a clamp pivoted at one end to the mandrel, and catch means for the free end of the clamp and adapted for automatic releasing engagement to adjust the position of the clamp relative to the mandrel in response to an increase in the thickness of hair wound on the mandrel.

9. A hair curler comprising a mandrel adapted to have a strand of hair wound thereabout, a clamp pivoted at one end to the mandrel and catch means for the free end of the clamp and adapted to automatically release the clamp in a step-by-step movement in response to an increase in the thickness of hair wound on the mandrel.

10. A hair curler comprising a mandrel adapted to have a strand of hair Wound thereabout during rotation of the mandrel, a relatively stationary part carried by the mandrel, a pivoted hair clamp having its free end engaged by the stationary part and catch means carried by the stationary part and releasably securing the free end of the clamp in engaged position with the stationary part.

11. A hair curler comprising a mandrel adapted to have a strand of hair wound thereabout during rotation of the mandrel, a relatively stationary part carried by the mandrel, a pivoted hair clamp having its free end disposed transversely of and engaged by said stationary part and catch means carried by said stationary part and releasably securing the free end of the clamp in engaged position with the stationary part.

12. A hair curler comprising a mandrel adapted to have a strand of hair wound thereabout during rotation of the mandrel, a relatively stationary part carried by the mandrel, a pivoted hair clamp having its free end engaged by the stationary part and catch means contained within said stationary part and releasably securing the free end of the clamp in engaged position with the stationary part.

13. A hair curler comprising a mandrel adapted to have a strand of hair wound thereabout during rotation of the mandrel, a relatively stationary part carried by the mandrel, a pivoted hair clamp having its free end engaged by the stationary part and catch means carried by the stationary part and releasably securing the free end of the clamp in engaged position with the stationary part, said catch means and said free end of the clamp being contained within said stationary part.

14. In a pivotal mounting for a clamp on a mandrel, a pivot for the clamp carried by the mounting and adjustable transversely with respect to the mandrel and spring means yieldably urging the pivot toward the mandrel.

15. In a hair curler a mandrel having an annular groove therein, a U-shaped mounting positioned in the groove, the arms of the mounting having slots therein extending at right angles to the axis of the mandrel, a pin slidably positioned in said slots and forming a pivotal connection for one end of a hair clamp and a spring also seated in said groove and connected to the opposite end of said pin for yieldably urging the clamp toward the mandrel.

16. A hair curler comprising a mandrel adapted to have a strand of hair wound thereabout, an extension at one end of the mandrel and mounted for rotation independent of the mandrel, a clamp pivoted at one end on the mandrel and having an angular free end extending transversely through the extension and catch means carried by the extension releasably securing said free end in position.

FRANK PISCIOTTA. 

